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Stranger In My House

Milsap's haunting country ballad captures the paranoia of a man's crumbling marriage. He senses a "stranger"...
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YEAR | 198%

"Stranger In My House"

Last updated 📅 2024-01-31

Milsap's haunting country ballad captures the paranoia of a man's crumbling marriage. He senses a "stranger" in their home, not literally, but through his wife's distant smiles and evasive answers. Suspicions bloom, fueled by unanswered questions and love turned cold, leaving him questioning if her heart now belongs to another. In just 50 words, the song paints a bittersweet picture of jealousy, betrayal, and the agonizing loneliness within a shared space.

  • CATEGORY: All Time Favorite Music
  • BAND: Ronnie Milsap
  • GENRE: Country Rock, Rock
  • YEAR: 1983

"Stranger In My House" by Ronnie Milsap isn't your typical country ballad. Sure, it has the twangy guitars and yearning vocals, but beneath the surface simmers a chilling tale of marital suspicion and paranoia. Milsap croons of a husband haunted by the presence of an unseen "stranger" in his home, a shadowy figure he believes is stealing his wife's affection.

The lyrics drip with doubt and despair. Every glance across the dinner table, every curt reply fuels his fire. Whispers and secrets shared behind closed doors, a lingering scent of cologne that isn't his – each detail becomes a twisted clue in his mind. He confronts his wife, his questions barbed and desperate, but her answers are evasive, fueling the flames of distrust.

The genius of the song lies in its ambiguity. Is there truly a stranger, or is the narrator consumed by jealousy and insecurity? Milsap never explicitly tells us, leaving the listener to grapple with the protagonist's unraveling sanity. The final verse delivers a gut punch: "Somebody here that I can't see / A stranger in my house / Trying to take her away / There's a stranger in my house / Here in my bed." He finds solace in her embrace, but the doubt lingers, a cold shadow forever staining their love.

"Stranger In My House" is a masterclass in storytelling, weaving a potent mix of country crooning and psychological thriller. It's a song that stays with you long after the last note fades, a haunting reminder of how suspicion can poison even the deepest bonds.

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"Some of the Best Love Songs of the '80s"

Last updated 📅 2024-02-06

Big hair, synths galore, and love soaring high like shoulder pads. 80s ballads promised forever in neon, whispered secrets over sax solos, and danced 'til dawn with a touch of heartbreak. From Whitney's power anthems to Michael's smooth whispers, every beat pulsed with passion, chasing dreams on roller skates and holding love closer than a Rubik's Cube solution.

Image courtesy of "ECHOESOFEMOTIONSPAST.COM"

The love songs of the 80s, where big hair met big emotions! These sonic valentines throbbed with synthesizers, soaring power ballads, and a touch of neon-tinged optimism.

First love, innocent and electric, pulsed through songs like Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" and Michael Jackson's "The Girl Is Mine." Synthy anthems like Duran Duran's "Hungry Like the Wolf" and Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" promised forever young devotion, while the power ballad kings like Foreigner ("I Want to Know What Love Is") and REO Speedwagon ("Can't Fight This Feeling") belted out their hearts in epic choruses.

For a touch of melancholy, there were break-up bangers like Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" and Tears for Fears' "Shout," where wounded hearts raged against betrayal. But even heartbreak shimmered with hope, exemplified by Phil Collins' "Against All Odds" and Tina Turner's "Simply the Best," anthems of resilience and finding love again.

Beyond the mainstream, alternative love bloomed in The Cure's introspective "Lovesong" and The Smiths' Morrissey crooning about rainy day romance. And who could forget Prince's purple reign of sensuality, from the simmering "Kiss" to the playful "Raspberry Beret?"

Love in the 80s was big, bold, and sometimes cheesy, but always passionate. These songs were the soundtrack to first kisses, prom nights, and mixtapes passed between lockers. They captured the era's vibrant spirit, reminding us that even shoulder pads and leg warmers couldn't contain the power of a good love song.

  • CATEGORY: Love Songs
  • GENRE: Love Songs
  • YEAR: 198*
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